In Fort Lauderdale, industries thrive and workers contribute their talents to various sectors. Unfortunately, in this community workplace accidents can happen unexpectedly, leaving employees facing injuries and distress. When such incidents occur, understanding workers’ compensation liability and benefits becomes crucial.
If you’re injured in the workplace and need an experienced lawyer, you can always contact us at Flaxman Law Group to set up a free accident consultation with a Fort Lauderdale workers’ comp attorney.
Workers’ Comp Liability in Fort Lauderdale
Under Florida’s workers’ compensation system, fault or negligence is generally not a factor in worker injury claims. Whether the employer or the employee caused the accident, the injured worker is typically entitled to benefits, as long as they are required to be covered by workers’ comp insurance under Florida law.
Despite that, there are important exceptions to this rule. If an employee’s intoxication, willful misconduct, or intentional self-harm led to the accident, their eligibility for workers’ comp benefits may be affected. Similarly, if the injury occurred while the employee was engaged in activities unrelated to their job, such as horseplay, benefits could be limited or denied.
So while liability usually doesn’t matter in workers’ comp claims, if you’re found to be liable for your injuries for any of the above reasons, you may be found ineligible for benefits. If you’re accused of horseplay, misconduct, or if you are denied benefits for any reason, contact an experienced Fort Lauderdale workers’ comp lawyer by contacting Flaxman Law Group right away.
Types of Workers’ Comp Benefits
Workers’ compensation benefits in Fort Lauderdale can include:
- Medical Benefits. These cover all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to the workplace injury or illness. This includes doctor’s visits, hospitalization, surgeries, prescription medications, and rehabilitation services.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits. If you’re injured at work and cannot return to work for a certain period due to the injury, you may be eligible for TTD benefits, which replace part of your lost wages until you can return to work.
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) Benefits. If you can only return to work in a reduced capacity because of your injury, these benefits can compensate for the wage difference.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits. If your work injury leaves you permanently unable to work, this benefit provides compensation for a significant portion of your lost earning capacity.
- Permanent Impairment Benefits. These benefits compensate for the permanent loss of function or mobility.
- Death Benefits. In tragic cases where a workplace accident results in a fatality, the dependents of the deceased employee may be entitled to benefits that help cover funeral expenses and help replace part of the worker’s contribution to the household income.
Although workers’ comp claims are designed to provide support to injured workers without the need of proving liability, liability can be important. As you can see from the above, you may need workers’ comp benefits if you’re injured to pay for medical expenses and to pay living costs. If you’re accused of causing your injury willfully or your employer or their insurance company takes other steps to try to deny your claim, you’ll want to consult with a Fort Lauderdale workers’ comp attorney to protect your rights.
If you’re injured at work, we invite you to contact Flaxman Law Group for a free accident consultation. You can do so by calling us 24/7 at 866-352-9626 to speak to a live person, or you can contact us online.